Herevana – #186 – Wilderness – Russet

Here we have: beer 186 in the #Herevana series. I’ve been weak and went to the cellar stash to finish off a tortured week, but it’s all done and over and we go again. But to get me to the bridge I went for a Wilderness Brewing – Wilderness Russet, which is brewed in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand 🇳🇿, in the style that is a Sour Flemish Ale – Flanders Red / Oud Bruin with an ABV of 8.0% and 20 IBU. In New Zealand this is 3.2 standard drinks.

I got the comedy giant glass out, since the demise of the wonky crystal one I’ve been moping a bit, then I remembered this monster hiding in the back of the cupboard, needless it’s not one of MrsPhil’s favourites.

I’m expecting Malty, dry, fruity oaky things., I just read the label 🙂

An absolutely delicious aroma when opened, a lovely sourness with sweetness, intoxicating.

Deep dark red in the glass, with no head retention, but that’s not the worst thing, there are enough bubbles forming to make this look lovely. A glorious oaky sour note when it’s in the glass, there’s a lot of air in there for it to form and fill-out.

A really super bit of beer, lovely tartness from the cherry with an underlying dryeness, that sourness is not squinting level but at the really nice bit and bitterness. This is something special. I seem to have hit a really sweet spot for serving temperature, this is just outstanding.

There’s a little magic that happens when you get the tart cherry notes leading, with a sideshow of oaky dryness, when it also has a big feel about it and fullness. There is enough carbonation although that’s a personal preference I might like a bit more.

I’ve got nothing bad to say at all about this beer, except that I drank it and it’s not available to buy at the Wilderness Store anymore, and unlikely to be in the local Liquorland or good beer shops, anyone that knows would know.

The Pdubyah-o-meter rates this as a 10 on the arbitrary number scale. A rather standout bit of beer this, it is like they say on the label, there’s no extra words or fluff, and that is how the beer drinks, bold but delicate with and smooth. So distracted I forgot the two cheese platter.

Music: Flowerkid has a new Album, and you know you have to listen to make an opinion, on first listen it’s nice and enjoyable soft lyrically clever music.

Herevana beers are those I drink at home, I’m not at some beer festival, like, for instance, Beervana, but am just in my kitchen, usually, dining room table, sometimes, or outside, occasionally, where I can take an average picture and write in real time about the beer that I’ve invested in, both in a monetary and emotional way.

Philip himself.

A pinot barrel aged flemish style red. To make this beer we selected 3 barrels to blend together to create a beer with a hint of sweetness, a little acetic with a malty tart base

Brewers Notes

Sour Flemish Ale – Flanders Red / Oud Bruin

The Flanders Red Ale, also known as Flemish Red Ale and Belgian Sour Red Ale, is deep red/burgundy to reddish-brown colored, sour, fruity, red wine-like Belgian-style ale with interesting supportive malt flavors and fruit complexity. The dry finish and tannin makes it more wine-like than any other beer style. Similarly, the Oud Bruin, also know as Belgian Sour Brown Ale is a dark reddish-brown to brown, malty, fruity, aged, subtle-sour Belgian-style brown ale. A deeper malt character distinguishes the Oud Bruin from Flemish Red ale. The Oud Bruin is less acetic and maltier than a Flemish Red, and the fruity flavors are more malt-oriented while the Flemish Red have more of a fruity-tart profile.